Committee sends 'Idaho Medical Freedom Act' to 14th order after hours-long hearing

The Senate State Affairs Committee held an extended hearing and public testimony on Senate Bill S 10-23 — introduced as the "Idaho Medical Freedom Act" — before voting to send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment.

Senator Dan Foreman, sponsor of the measure, opened the hearing and yielded to witness Leslie Manoukian, who framed the proposal as a broad protection of individual bodily autonomy. Manoukian said the bill “ensures that employment, education, entertainment, and public participation remain accessible to all regardless of their medical choices” and described the measure as an extension of the state’s existing Coronavirus Stop Act. “No right is more fundamental than the right to determine what we put into and on our bodies,” she told the committee.

Opponents including Alex LeBeau, president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, and business and health-sector witnesses urged caution and urged the committee to hold the bill. LeBeau said the bill’s language as written creates uncertainty for employers and could conflict with existing workplace safety protocols and public-health rules. Health-care witnesses, nurses and school staff raised concerns that the bill would undermine existing school immunization and outbreak management practices. Several business groups — including Food Northwest and the Idaho Retailers Association — testified that the bill’s definitions are too broad and could create gray areas for routine health and safety measures in food processing, pharmacies and restaurants.

Supporters including representatives of Health Freedom Idaho, the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and several individual residents urged passage. Supporters framed the bill as protection against future medical mandates and government coercion, citing experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After more than three hours of testimony and questions from senators, Senator Anson moved — and Senator Toews seconded — that S 10-23 be sent to the 14th order for possible amendments. The motion carried on a committee voice vote; a roll-call was not read into the record on the floor of the committee. Two senators were noted on the record as opposed during the subsequent business on related votes. The committee directed further drafting and indicated the sponsor is open to amendment to clarify definitions and carve-outs for narrowly defined federal or occupational safety requirements.